Transcript
STEPHEN POKANIS : I have responded to that by providing payments done for the months, the three months that he argued that he was not paid. From the records that we have payments were done he has received all his payments for the three months.
KOROI HAWKINS: Has he restored services? How are the prisoners faring at the moment?
SP: I made contact with the owner of the company, he came and we had a chat yesterday afternoon at 2:55pm, for him to supply food. Actually I did not know that he actually supplied the food on Wednesday [22-02-2017] evening.
KH: He has resumed services? Was that a one off on Wednesday or every day now since Wednesday?
SP: Yes, Wednesday this week, today is Friday [24-02-2017] so when I had a chat with him yesterday with one of my assistance commissioners and I asked him why he raised all those issues to the media and he said he was frustrated. But actually we, the correctional service has done its payment and everything should be okay. I told him to continue supplying rations and if he does not want to continue with this business then he should by all means write to the commissioner informing him that he is withdrawing services so that we can find another reputable supplier that is willing to provide services to Baisu correctional institution.
KH: What about the Baisu jail have they been contacted do you know if his services have resumed?
SP: Yes I have spoken to the commanding officer they have received the supplies so everything is back to normal.
KH: That is great news. Now I understand from the press release a lot of suppliers for jails a month or two month delays at times with the payment of their fees is this just because of process or is there a budget shortage in this area?
SP: Both, with the budget here in Papua New Guinea we have the normal monthly allocations that are given to all government departments including correctional service and the monthly allocations they are not steady. Sometimes there are decreases in the allocations it is to do with budget. And secondly it comes back to claims, invoices that are submitted. Sometimes they are not submitted as early, within the [timeframe] for the funds that are allocated. So when the invoice comes late we look to the next month when the funds come in then we pay because we normally spend all the funds within the month.
KH: The fluctuation of the warrant amounts is that something that has always been happening or is that just a recent development, with the current economic problems?
SP: Yes it is to do with the recent development that we are facing, especially with the economic situation the country is facing so it is nationally it is not only to correctional services.
